Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick has not yet decided whether to select Jadon Sancho in the squad for tomorrow’s Premier League encounter against West Ham.
The winger missed Wednesday night’s win over Brentford due to a bereavement in his family and attended the funeral on the same day. However, the manager has now confirmed that Sancho hasn’t trained since but is due to return for United’s final session at 3pm on Friday.
Rangnick explained to reporters that the recent loss has affected Sancho quite a lot, as quoted by the Manchester Evening News.
“He didn’t train yesterday because he still asked us to not train. He attended a funeral on Wednesday, it still affected him quite a lot.
“He is expected back to training this afternoon at three o’clock, but right now I’m not sure if he will be available for the game tomorrow.
“It was an important member of the family, somebody he was close to all his life. I have to wait and see, speak to him before training and after training and take the decision.”
Moreover, United will be without Victor Lindelof, which should see Harry Maguire return to the starting line-up after being benched for recent matches. The Swede is staying at home with his wife and two sons after they were left traumatised by a break-in at their home on Wednesday.
The Reds are also missing Luke Shaw and Aaron Wan-Bissaka due to injury, so we will see Diogo Dalot and Alex Telles from the start again.
“Offensively, [Dalot] has a lot of assets, he did well for somebody who can deliver crosses from the wing, he’s also able to take on players in one-on-one situations,” Rangnick added. “The areas where he can still improve and where there is still space for improvement is the defensive work.
“He’s not that much of a defensive full-back, more of an offensive full-back, but this is normal. There are quite a few other full-backs in other clubs where it’s the same. Quite a few of those full-backs formerly played as right or left wingers and, so far, the development with Diogo and Alex Telles, I’m happy.
“They get more game-time now because Luke is injured and Aaron is still ill. So I’m happy to have those two players available. As I said, offensively, they have assets and strengths but defensively there is still space to improve.”
